Dry cell apparatus



Aug. 15, 1944.y

A, M. MacFARLAND DRY CELL APPARATUS .Filed Feb. 25,' 1942 7 Sheets-Sheet l IIII I und..- L l0 .Il

|| I l lILnILL...

22u92? im.

Aug. 415, 1944.

DRY CELL APPARATUS Filed Feb. 25, 1942 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 ug- 15, 1944 A. M. MacFARLAND 2,355,985

' DRY CELL APPARATUS v Filed Feb. 25, 1942 7 sheets-5mn s' SQS ...L .L J

' vez? fait'v /s'v/Z MMU/222762226X y Aug- 15, 1944. A. M. MacFARLAND l I 2,355,985 l DRY CELL APPARATUS Fiied Feb. 25. 1942 A'l sneeis-sneet 4 Y b* m |53 b5 Q Q' Y. 5 ,Q t N SQ nnen/aff' Aug; 15, 1944.

A. M. MacFARLAND Y DRY CELL APPARATUS Filed Feb. 25. 1942 e/Z Z/Of.' @n 7 -U//mZ /y/Vmf/WC/ f @Zazc m44/ @fw/f Aug. 15, 1944. A, M, MacFARLAND l DRY CELL APPARATUS Filed Feb. 25. 1942 '7 SheetsfSheet Aug. 15,v 1944, A,.M MacFARLAND 2,355,985

DRY CELL APPARATUS Filed Feb. 25, 1942 '7 Sheets-Sheet'7 Patented Aug. 15, 1944 DRY CELL APPARATUS Allison M. MacFarland, Freeport, Ill., assignor to Burgess Battery Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Delaware Application February 25, 1942, Serial No. 432,289

7 Claims. (Cl. 93-81) t This invention relates ,to apparatus for making dry cells and particularly for forming mul-f tiple-layer cylindrical metal anodes for such dry cells. A dry cellhaving a `metal anode of this type is described and claimed in C. F. `Burgess United States Patent 2,231,320, granted February 11, 1941, and it is the object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for forming the cylindrical electrodes of the multiple-layer type at high speed. In an electrode of this type, an adhesive is applied to the inter-layer surfaces and serves to join the layers together. It is desired that no adhesive berapplied to that surface of the metal which forms the interior surface of the cylinder and which in the finished dry cell is exposed to the electrolyte. The apparatus of this invention is adapted for applying the adhesive to the desired portion of the surfaces only. In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of the apparatus with some of the parts omitted for the sake of clearness;

Fig. 2 is a longitudial sectional view of a portion of the apparatus, taken along lines 2--2 of Fig. 3 and Fig. 4;

Fig. 3 is av transverse sectional View of .the

apparatus, taken along line 3--3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of a part of the apparatus; t j

Fig. 5 is a sectional view of a portion of the apparatus taken along the broken line 5-5 of Fig. 4 and along line 5-5 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view along line 6-6 of Figs. 5 and '7;

f Fig. '7 is a sectional view'along line 'I-l of Fis. 6; Y Y

Fig. 8 is a sectional view along line 8-8 of Fig. 2; A l

Fig. 9 is a sectional view along line 9-9 of- Fig. 1;

Fig. 10 is an elevational view `of a portion ofY the multiple-layer cylindrical electrode during pauses in the advance movement of the strip, advancing the served sections in succession, and

at a subsequent station applying, a thinlm `ofy viscous adhesive tothe proper portion of the surface of each section, thereafter advancing the sections to a. mandril and rolling the sections about the mandril into the form` of muliplelayered cylinders, open at both ends, with the adhesive located between the contiguous surfaces of the adjacent layers and simultaneously pressing the layers together into rm adhesive contact, and thereafter stripping the cylindrical electrodes from the mandril. The electrodes are then ready for use in forming the dry cells. The electrode is shown in Fig. 11 and consists of an open ended cylinder lill composed of a plurality of adhesively joined layers lIl8 of thin sheet zinc or other metal.

The general features of the apparatus are shown in Fig. 1. The apparatus is supported upon a, main frame I0. The motive power is supplied to the moving parts by the electric motor Il, which is carried by frame IIJ and drives the main driving pulley I2 by means of a suitable driving belt I3. Thedriving pulley I2, in turn, imparts motion to a sprocket I4, which is mounted upon the same shaft as pulley I2, this motion being transmitted to a second sprocket I5 by means of a chain I6. Motion is transmitted from sprocket I5 to a shaft I'I upon which sprocket I5 is mounted and thence to a gear I8 which is also mounted on shaft I'I, and fi'om gear I8 through idler gear I9 to gear 20,

which is mounted on and imparts motion to a shaft 2|. Shaft 2| carries and imparts motion to several cams and sprockets which serve to drive different parts of the apparatus as will be described hereinafter. The direction of rotation of the motor and several of the members of this power transmission train is indicated by arrows. v

The thin sheet metal 25 which is to be formed into the electrodes, preferably in the form of an elongated strip of a width equal to the length of the cylindrical electrode which is to be formed, is fed into the apparatus while being supported upon a suitable platform or support 26. Its forward motion is from left to right in Fig. l and is induced and controlled by a pair of cooperating rolls 2l, which are pressed together in the conventional manner by spring 31 which applies pressure to the bearing for the upper roll. The feeding motion is intermittent and is imparted to the rolls 21 by means of gears 28 which Vare mounted at one end. of the shafts carrying the rolls (see Fig. 4) and engage one another. The lower gear receives its motion from -gear 29 which is rotatably mounted 0n shaft 3E! which is supported by frame Il). An intermittent motion is imparted to gear 29 by means of an eccentric cam 3| which is mounted on shaft 2l and cooperates with annular camfollower 32. A rod 33 connects the cam-follower 32 with an arm 34 which projects radially from an oscillating block 35 which is mounted rotatably upon shaft 3D. A head member 36 is mounted pivotally upon the end of rod 33 and forms a swivel connection between rod 33 and arm 34 to accommodate the rotary motion'Y which is undergone by the arm 34 during the reciprocation of the rod 33. Gear 29 carries aA ratchet 3,1 and a cooperating pawl 38 is'mountedY on the oscillating block 35.

The intermittent forward motion of the strip 25 is accomplished in the following manner. The rotary motion of the eccentric cam 3l' imparts' a' reciprocating motion to rod 33 which imparts an oscillating motion to block 35. The cooperating ratchet '31' and pawl'38 translates theupstroke movement of'ro'd"33"into' a rotary motion of gear 29' an'd rolls 21' such vas to'A feed thesheet material forwardly, while on` the downstroke' movement o'f' rod' 33, gear 2`9'remains` atrest. Therefore, at each oscillation of`rod'33 the 'sheet materialis given an intermittent'advanceY movement.

During each pause in" the" advance "of the'strip 25, the forward` endY portion thereof is severedA from the main bodyo'f vthe strip by a reciprocating' knife which operates across the strip' at' a xed 'point upon the apparatus: Ea'ch severed section formsthe material" for a' single electrode, and'since it may be desirable t'o'form electrodes of different sizes, it is desirable to 'be'able'to vary' the length of' the' severed' section. 'The head member 33 is mounted in adjustablemanner upon arm 3'4' andl may be xe'd in' position at' any desired distance from the center line' of shaftv 30; The details of the' adjustable' mounting are not shown'. 'The stroke of' gear '29; and likewise, the advance' travelv ofV strip '2'5 varies inversely' with the distance of 'the member 3"." from 'the' center. line' of shaft' 30'; an'd'fanyu desired length of severed section maybe obtained" bya'djusting'member"3 5' to the proper'position on' arm 34'.

The means' for'severing the' sheet material' for a' single' electrode from' the end of 'the' elongated strip'25 comprises'a knife' 4D' (see Figs. '2 and 3)A which is mounted' upon a vertically reciprocable head 4|". Each end' ofthe knife' 40l slides in one of' the slots of a vertical `H'shaped' guide member 42' (seeFig. 7), which' extends upwardly from base member' 3'9'which is mountedin a suitable manner' upon 'the' main `frame' F0'. The vertical motion is imparted' to knife '4`0` by means of' a cam' 4'4'which 'rotates' with a shaft '45 which is journaled in supporting members 53, which are -carri'e'd upon the' upper ends of guide members 42. Motion is'impa'rtedto the shaft by sprocket 45,'which is shown'in' Fig; l, and'which is'mounted upon' the'portion' o'fl the shaft which is severed in Fig. 4'. Sprocket 4'6 is driven by' means of chain '41 and' a second sprocket 54 which 4is mounted x'edly upon shaft '21'.

The knife 4l) is in the general 'form' of` a rectangle, with its central portion recessed from the topl downwardly at 48'. Th'e' reciprocating headr 4| is located inA the recess 48Y and a't its upper 'portion carries a shaft 49 upon' whichi is rotatablymounted a cam-followerv wheel 50. When the projection 55 upon the surface of cam 44 (see Fig. 2) engages cam-follower 53, the'knife isloweredfor thefstripsevering operation; When the projection 55I passes beyond the cam-'follower 50, the knife is raised again by means of tension springs 5| which are connected between main supporting members 53 and a yoke 52 which is fastened to the reciprocating head 4l. Projection 55 of cam 44 is so arranged as to cause severance of the strip 25 at the proper time during each pause in the forward movement of the strip. A base plate 56 cooperates with the knife 40 during the severing. operation.

Following the severance of the electrode-forming section 51 of the sheet material, the section is advanced in a predetermined manner in synchronism with the operation of the adhesiveapplying, cylinder-rolling, and mandril-stripping-mechanisms. This is accomplished in the following manner. A section-advancing roll 60 is continuously driven in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 2 by the prime mover by intervening gearing which is suitably mounted on the main frame l0 and which is not shown. The-roll Gillis arranged 'so asto-advance the sheet material only at desired ltimes inV order that the proper synchronism is obtained. For this purpose, the roll 65 -is-arranged at a slightly 'lowered-elevation, suchthat normally-its surface does not contact the sheet material, and mechanism is provided for Ycompressing the sheet material against the roll 60 at-the desired times. -During such times the sheet material is advanced. 'I-he thin sheet `'material issufficiently flexible to bendreadily into contact withroll 60;

'IYhemechanism for pressing thesheet against roll 6U is shown in Figs. 4to 7 and comprises a cooperating roll which is rotatably supported at-itsendsby bars 6| which are adapted to movev roll 80 into and out of pressure engagement with roll at predetermined times. Bars 6I arecon nected together by a bracing bar 59 (omittedfrom Fig. 4 for clearness) and are iXedly attached to a rod 62, which extends' transversely of the apparatus and is pivotally supported by and extends through both side members of themain frame l0. A further bar (i3v is also fixedly attached to the rod 5-2' at theend thereof and extends in a direction substantiallyl opposite to bars 6l. Bar 53 is slotted at its end and a pin E4 which is mounted upon a vertical bar 65 cooperateswith the said slot. Bar 65 is adapted to reciprocate vertically and is Iguided by a projection 55 thereon and pin 64 which slide in the rex'- terior slot1l1 of-vertical H-member 42 (see Fig. 7). Thev reciprocating Ibar B5 isV held vin place by a large .headed bolt"'61 which is mounted in' H-member 42' and passes through a slot 68 `in bar 65. Vertical bar 65 carries a cam-follower' wheel-'69 which is adapted to cooperate with a cam 1i] which is mounted upon shaft 45.

Cam '10 comprises two parts 1| and 12. Part 1I is mounted xedly upon shaft 45 and part 12 is mounted loosely. Part 12- has a slot 13 therein and a threaded bolt 14 passes through slot 13 and' is.. threaded into part 1I, 'whereby the twoparts may be clamped together in adjustable' manner. Parts 1I and 12 each has an elongated depression infits cam surface as is shown -in- Fig. 5, and by adjusting the relative positions of theA parts a resultant depression 15 of any desired length may be obtained. The cam-follower 69 makes contact with both of the cam parts whereby its upward movement is controlled 'by the resultant depression 15. VA compression spring 16 isarranged in the slot 'r1- of H-member 42 and under compression between Vthe shank of bolt 61 and pro- Jection'SB; whereby the spring. continuously urges bariupwardly.

When the depression 15 is reached by the camfollower 69, the latter and bar 65, are moved upwardly by spring 16 and bar 63 pivots upwardly upon rod 62, bars 6| at the same time pivoting downwardly and roll 80 moving into pressure engagement with roll 60. Roll 80 is continuously driven by the prime mover by means of gearing which is not shown. The depression 15 of cam 10 is arranged in such location that in proper synchronism with the movement of the remainder of the apparatus, roll 80 moves downwardly and presses `the sheet material against roll 60 and the two rolls move the sheet section 51 forwardly a sufficient distance to cause it to engage rthe next pair of sheet-advancing rolls 8| and 82.

HThe arrangement of rolls 8| and 82 is shown in detail in Fig. 8. Both of the rolls are driven continuously by the prime mover by means of gearing which is not shown. Guide members are provided for guiding the thin sheet material forwardly between the rolls in its travel. Such guide means comprises two L-shaped guide bars 88 which extend longitudinally and are mounted in longitudinal slots 89 in support 26 which is supported at this point by side plates 90 which, in turn, are supported by the main frame of the device. One leg of each of the L-shaped guide bars is directed inwardly toward the center of the sheet material and is spaced from the supporting bars 89 whereby the said bars form a pair of Slo-ts 9| within which the edge portions of the sheet material are held during its forward travel.

As the electrode-forming sheet travels forward, a viscous adhesive is applied to one surface thereof, and the mechanism for applying the adhesive in proper synchronism with the movement of the material is as follows. As is shown in Fig. 2, the adhesive 95 is contained in an opentop receptacle 96 which is arranged beneath the traveling sheet material and is supported by the main frame I0. A liquid adhesive is used which setsirelatively quickly and has suitable properties for use in a dry cell. An adhesive of the thermal type is preferred, that is, of the type which becomes softened and fluid when heated and hard when cold. Polyvinyl acetate resin is an example of a suitable adhesive. An electrical heating element 91 maintains the adhesive in the fluid condition. A roll 98 is partially sub-l merged in the adhesive at a point somewhat in advance of rolls 8| and 82 in the direction of travel of the sheet material. The function of the roll 98 is to collect adhesive upon its surface. Roll 98 may be composed of any suitable material, and it has been found that smooth-surfaced metal is satisfactory. A second roll 99 rotates in contact with the surface of roll 98 and receives adhesive from roll 98. Roll 99 may also be composed of metal and its surface may be smooth or provided with distributed small local depressions |00, which serve as receptacles for the adhesive. It has been found that better uniformity and regulation of the quantity of adhesive is obtained by employing two rolls in the relation shown. Rolls 98 and 99 are driven continuously by the prime mover by means of suitable gears which are not shown.

Normally the upper surface of roll 99 is slightly lower than the lower surface of the sheet material 25 whereby it is out of contact with the sheet material and the adhesive is not applied to the sheet material. Mechanism is provided for depressing the sheet material into contact with roll 99v at the proper times so as to coat the desired portionv of the surface thereof. This mechanism comprises a r o11`|03 (see Figs. 2 and 4) which is rotatably mounted upon the end of a pair of curved bars |04, which are pivotally supported uponv the frame by a pair of rods |05. The mechanism for pivoting the bars |04 comprises the barr |63. which cooperates `with cam |10 and camfollower |69 in-the samemanner that bar 63 cooperates With cam 10 and cam-follower 69. Cam |10 is, made up of two parts |1| and |12 similaito Vparts 1| and 12 of cam 10 and has a depression therein similar to depression 15 of cam 10 and roll |03 moves downwardly and presses the sheet section 51 into contact with the adhesive-carrying roll 99.at theproper time such that the adhesive is applied to that portion of the sheet metal which becomes the inter-layer surface in the completed cylindrical electrode.

The` adhesive continues to be applied to the undersurface of the sheet section 51 until the roll ;|03 is aga'iniraised out of contact with the sheet section. .This iscaused to occur an instant before the end of the section passes between the rolls 99 and |03 .in order to avoid the application of adhesive to the surface of roll |03. A bar |05A extends across the apparatus between the two bars |04 and beneath the sheet section 51, whereby when the roll |03 is in the raised position, bar |05A engages the under side of the forward end of the oncoming sheet section and lifts it -out of contact with roll 99, thereby insuring that vadhesive will not be applied to an area where its presence is not desired. A second bar |06 joins the two bars v|04 and gives added strength to the construction.

The adhesive-coated section 51 next passes to the mechanism forfrolling it into a multiple-layer cylinder and adhesively joining the adjacent layers. The mechanism comprises a mandril ||0 about which the sheet material is wound to form the cylinder. The mandril is rotated by the prime mover. in a direction such as to draw the section 51 forward. Thesheet material is coiled around the mandril by means of cooperating guide memberr .109, rolls and H2 and shoe ||3. These cooperating members are mounted upon movable supports |48 and |49 as will be described hereinafter. The guide member |09 has a surface curved in an arc conforming to the curvature of mandril ||0 and cooperates with the mandril to guidethe oncoming sheet material closely about the mandril and between the mandril and the rolls and shoe. The guide member is thin and is accommodated by slots in the` rolls, as shown in Fig. 2. The end of the guide member overlaps the end of the shoe ||3 and is accommodated in a slot in the shoe. This. insures that the sheet will be. guided beneath the shoe in the desired manner. Several of such guide members may be employed if required, spaced apart across the width of the sheet. Any desired number of layers .may be incorporated into the'completed cylinder, and the mechanism presses the layers together into firm contact whereby they are joined together in a tight adhesive joint. After the cylinder is formed upon the mandril, it is stripped therefrom and is ready for use in a dry cell.

The mechanism for operating the mandril and stripping the cylinder from it is shown in detail in'Figs. 9 and 10. The mandril |0 comprises the reducedV end of a shaft H4, upon which the main driving pulley l2 is mounted. The pulley |2 is mounted upon the hub of gear I4, which, in turn is mounted upon the hub of gear ||6, which is mounted upon sleeve member ||8 which surrounds shaft ||4. All of these parts are keyed together by means `of keys..| I5, |11, H9 and=|20 and .they all rotate together, Wherebytne rotary motionof pulley |21 is .transmittedvto the mand-ril |10. An elongated key-way |2| is provided for key |219, whereby shaft t4, together vwithal-:ey |29, may undergo longitudinal reciprocatingk motion, simultaneously vwith its rotary motion, -for the purpose of stripping the `formed cylinders from the mandril, as willvbefdescribed hereinafter. The supporting bearing forrthiszrotary movement isa pair of bearings|22 .which cooperate :with sleeve. member ||8 .and .are mounted upon sup porting .member 23, which. in turn, .is supported upon .main frame bymeans .of frame member |24.

The means forimparttng themeciprocating'motion to mandril HG are'as'ol'lows. Shaftl |`4 has a part |29 thereof Whicharextendsin ytheropposlte direction frommandril. |,|.|l and Whiclnis provided withT gear teeth y|30 whichextend circumferentially thereof and have nzero. pitch. The. teeth. |39 cooperate with av circular gear. 1.3 which is mounted xedly upon shaft |32,.Which, in turn, is mounted rotatably :upon frame member'.v |33, carried by mainframezlll. Asecondgear |34, of smaller diameter than gear |3I., is' also mounted fixedly upon shaft |32 and .cooperateswith-a gear rack in such manner that vertical reciproeating motion of the rackimparts. anoscillating rotary motion to gears |34. and |.3 L .Agrooved pulley |4| is mounted in freely rotatable manner upon the frame member |33 upon. the opposite side of toothed portion |30 of. shaftmember ||.4 and serves as an idler for'holding the. shaft.. in rm engagement with the gear |3|-.. vReciprocating motion is imparted torrack. |.35,..by means of a cam |35 which is mounted xedly upon shaft 2|. Cam |35 has a cam-groove |31. therein which is in the form of a circle attened throughouta portion of its length. A vcam-follower |38. mounted upon rack |35 cooperatesy with cam-groove |31. A roller bearingmember :|3915 provided at the lower end of the rack |35 and rolls upon the surface of cam |36v to reduce the friction between the parts.

The operation is asfollows. Commencingwith the mandril in the extended position, indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 9,.rotation is imparted-:to the mandril by pulley |.2 as has .been described heretofore and the cylinder of .thinxsheety metal is formed thereon into the multiple-layer Velec- Yby-oarn |35, and Amandril ||`0 is thereby returned tothe extended position.

.Theameans for rolling or wrapping the sheet metal about mandril |;|.0 comprises the guide member |.`9,..together with the two rolls` and ||;2.and .the curved shoe ||.3 (seeFig. .2). which are. arranged at progressive points about the .circumference .of the. mandi-il and are adapted'to lmove into `and out of pressure engagement with the-.mandrilinsynchronisrn with the advance of the metal-sheetmaterial. Rolls |||..and H2 are .provided with gear teeth at one end yand are continuously driven :by the prime mover by the .following train of members: gears ||6 .and |43, shaft |44 (see Fig. 9), gears |45 and |41 (see Fig, 2)., and the gear teeth at the ends of rolls .and II2. Gear M1 engages thegearsat the endswo'fboth rolls. a-s is indicated in Fig. 2. Shaft .Meis .suitably mounted on bearings which are mounted upon supporting member |23. As the z sheet advances, itsf'ront .edge passes .between `the `mandril and guide vmember |59, the latter causing the sheet to bend and follow the contour of the mandril surface. At the same time, the.

Y sheet passes between rolls and ||2 and the .mandriL The sheet then passes between the curately sized multiple-layer cylinder is formed.

The vadhesive undergoes sufficient cooling and hardening during this time, whereby an adhesive `joint isl formed between the layers which maintains the cylinder in its form. After the sheet has been rolled into a cylinder, the rolls trode |97. After the cylinder has beenformedga .i downward motion is impartedto rack v|351by cam r |35, whereby gear |3| is rotated counterclocl'i` wiseas it is seen in Fig. 9 and shaft I I'A'andtman-V dril |||l are moved to the left .into the retracted position, the shaft andrmandrumeanwhne lcone] tinuously undergoing rotary motionimparted by. The zero-pitchedgear teeth |30 'per-l;`

pulley l2. mit this continuous'rotarytmotion to vvtake place, while at the same time, they cause the oscillatory motion of gear |3| tobe translated into a reciprocating motion of the. shaft I4. A strippery plate |39 surrounds mandril |0 and is held in place by supporting member |23 and aretaining ring |25. During the retracting motion .of mandril HU, stripper plate |39 eng-ages the end of the newly formed cylinder |01 and prevents i-tfrom being retracted with. themandri-l. whereby the cylinder is stripped from the mandril and fallsV into a receptacle which is providedv for .the purpose. In Fig. 9 the apparatus is .showninthe position in which .the cylinder is being stripped from the mandril. After thishasbeen done, an upward return movement is imparted to-rack |35 andtheshoe are reciproca-ted out of pressureengagement with the mandril. The means for supporting and imparting reciprocal motion to the rolls and the shoe are shown in Fig. l. Rolls .and |:2 andtheir driving gear lill-are mountedsupon theendof asupporting arm |48 and shoe ||3 is mounted upon the end of a second supporting .arm |159, .arms |48, and '|49 both being pivotally mounted upon shaft |58 which is carried b-y frame member |23. Supporting arm |48 is adaptedto oscillate through a short stroke-about shaftl and gear |55, which is mounted upon stationary support |23, is adapted to make continuous engagement with gear |43 which is mounted upon movable support |118. Oscillating motion Aabout shaf t |58 is imparted to Supporting.arms.lllltandv Utlby a train of parts comprising cam |50 which is mounted xedly on shaft 2| and .cooperates with cam-follower |5| on the end .of .lever |52 to impart an oscillating motion to lever |52, which is mounted pivotally upon bracket |64 which isv supported b-y the main frame. The opposite end of lever |52 is connected to one end of a vertically reciprocable bar .153, which passes through a guide member |54and is attached at its opposite end to'alink member |255 .which is connected tothe end of supportngar-m |48 which is on the opposite side of supporting shaft |58 from the rolls I| and ||'2. Upward movement is imparted tov bar- 53byleve-r |52 and downward movement is imparted by-tensionspring |62 which is connected between the lowerend lof said bar |53 and the main frame. TheV .connection between arm |48 and linrk |55 is bymeansof a pin and slot, the-slot being longer than the diameter of the pin as shown, whereby relative motion between these parts may take place. A compression spring |59 is arrangd to `exert pressure against the opposite end of supporting arm |48 and adapted to cause rolls I and I I 2 to press against the mandril I|| l. Spring I 59 is lheld in'place by adjustable retaining member |68, which is mounted vupon supporting member |23. Y Bar |53 is also connected by means ofbracket |56 and rod |51 to supporting bar |49- at a'point adjacent shoe ||3. f Rod |51 passes through an opening in bracket |56 and has af-nut at the'end whereby upward motion of bracket |56 lis not transmitted'torod '|5111 but downward motion is, and serves to draw arm |49- and shoe II3'downwardly out of engagement witnrnandril ||0. A tension spring 6I is attached between themain frame and the endof arm |49 whichV extends beyond shaft |58 fromV shoe I I3 and is adapted to draw the shoe upwardly into yieldingpressur'e engagement with the mandril when the "bar v'|53 and the bracket |56 is in the raised position. The operation of the rolls I and I I2 and shoe IIS is as follows." When, upon the rotation of shaft 2|, cam-follower |5I passes from the recessed to the extended surface ofcam |50, lever |52 moves in a counterclockwise direction land vertically reciprocating bar 53`r`noves upwardly. The loose pin and'slot connection between link |55 and arm |48 then' permits supporting arm |48 (carrying rolls III 'and II2) tovbe moved in a counterclockise direction by compression spring |59 and arm M9 (carryingshoe I3) is moved in a clockwise direction by tension spring I6|where by the rolls and the shoe are brought into resilient pressure contact with the mandril'l I0. When upon the further rotationof shaft 2|, cam-fol-VK lower returns from the extended to the recessed surface of cam |50, the"r'no`tir`1` is reversed and bar |53 moves downwardly and serves to draw the rolls and shoe out of "Contact with the mandril. Cam IEB is so 4arranged that ythe movement of the rolls and theshoe intoA contact with the mandril occurs 'as the forward end portion of the electrode sheet material reaches the mandril, and the pressure engagement continuesuntil the piece of sheet material has been completely rolled into a cylinder and theadhesive joint has been, made. The movement ofthe rolls and the shoe'` away from the mandril occurs after the cylinder` has been completed and pri'ortothetimeitis'j stripped from the mandril. In this manner, upon the stripping of the cylinder from the mandril, the cylinder is free to fall into thereceptacle |65." The sequence ofy operations yof the4 ,apparatus is as follows. The strip'of sheet 4material 25 is` moved forward intermittently by rolls 27 a dis-A" tance equal to the desired length of sheet'for a single electrode. During a pause in its forward movement, knife IlIl severs a jsection 51 from,` the strip. After the sectionhas been severed'and before the next advancefof the strip 2,5, the conlfl tinuously moving roll 8D descends and'presses section 51 between'it and `continuously meving' roll 60 wherebythe section isadvanced until it passes between rolls 8| and- 82 and *roll |38 then moves upwardly again and out ofuengagement with the sheet.- Rolls 8| and* 82 are' alsocontinuously moving and are intpre'ssure engagie-` ment with the sheet material andas a resultv the section is advanced. lIts forward end is held f away from adhesive-carrying -ro'll 89 by bar IG5A and then passes between mandril IIIl andthe guide member '|89 and rolls I-I I'andV ||2 and shoe H3. During this advance anda'fter that` much of the section has passed roll 99-as'will formthe interior layerrof the nalmultipledayer cylinder,- rol1 |03 descendsandrpresses" the section against roll 99 whereby adhesive is applied to its under surface. At approximately the time the rearward end of the section reaches roll |83, the roll moves upwardly again. Rolls and ||2 and shoe I3 are in pressure engagement with the mandril and vthe section is rolled about mandril I0 and cornpressed into a cylinder with the layers in rm adhesive union. The cylinder is then stripped from the mandril in the manner which has been described heretofore. In the meantime, the strip 25 has been advanced again and a second section severed therefrom and advanced, the said advance being synchronized in such manner that a cylinder has been stripped from the mandril and the mandril is back in position to receive the second section by the 'time the forward end of the said section arrives at that point.

While but a single embodiment of the apparatus has been described and illustrated, it is obvious that various modifications may be made in the mechanical features thereof, and it is understood that the invention is limited only in accordance with the scope of the appended claims.

1. Apparatus for forming multiple-layer cylinders from thin sheet material which comprises a base, a pair of cooperating feed rolls supported on said base and adapted to feed thin sheet material therebetween, means for imparting intermittent forward feeding motion to said feedrolls, a reciprocating knife supported by said base and adapted to sever the forward section of said sheet material during a pause in the forward feed mo,- tion of said feed rolls, a second pair of cooperating rotating feed rolls supported by said base on opposite sides of and normally out of pressure engagement with said severed section of sheet material, a third pair of continuously 'operating feed rolls located forwardly of the forward end of said severed section, means for bringing said second pair of feed rolls into pressure engagement with opposite sides of said severed sectionat predetermined times, whereby said sections are moved into operative engagement with said third pair of feed rolls in spaced succession, a rotating adhesive` supply roll Zand a 4cooperating rotating pressure roll positioned on opposite sides of said sheet section respectively in advance of said third pair of feed rolls, said supply and pressure rolls being normally out of contact with said sheet section, means for moving said pressure roll to bring said sheet section into pressure engagement with said supply roll at predetermined times in the advance movement of said sheet section, a mandril mounted for rotation and longitudinal reciprocation on said base and -being located in advance of said supply roll, means for rotating said mandril, a plurality of rotating bending rolls and a pressure shoe in cooperative relation with said mandril at progressive points abo-ut the circumference of said mandril and adapted to wind said advancing sheet section about said mandril into the form of a multiple-layer cylinder and press the superposed layers of said cylinder together, means for moving said bending rolls and pressure shoe into and out of pressure engagement with said mandril in synchronism4 with the advance of said sheet material, means for reciprocating said mandril longitudinally back and fourth after the formation of said cylinder thereon, a stationary collar member surrounding said mandril for strippingA said cylinder from said mandril during said reciprocation of said mandril.

2. Apparatus' for forming multiple-layer cylinders from thin sheet material which comprises a base, a pair of cooperating feed rolls supported on said base and adapted to impartintermittent advance movement to thin sheet material therebetween, a, reciprocating knifesupported by said base and adaptedlto sever the forwardy section-of said sheet material .during a pause inthe-advance movement of saidsheet material, asecond pair of ro-tating vfeed -rolls supported by said Vbase ron opposite sides of said severed sections of sheet material and adapted vto move .said severed sections gforward in spacedasuccession la rotating adhesive supply roll and a cooperating rotating pressure roll positioned; in ladvance of said second pair of feed rolls andggonopposite sides of said sheet material respectively, vsaid supply and pressure rolls being normally outof; contactwith said sheet material; means for vmoving said pressure roll to bringfa predeterminedportion vofthe surface ofA eachof said severed sections intopreslsure engagement with saidsupply'roll duringithe advance movement of said severed sections, a mandril mounted for rotation and longitudinal reciprocation on said baseY and being located. in advance of said. supply roll, means for rotating said mandril, a plurality 4of rotatingrbending rolls and a pressure shoe in cooperativerelation with said mandril at progressivepoints Aabout the-circumferencefof said mandril=and adapted to wind said advancing sheetsection about said mandril intoV `the form of. a multiple-,layer cylinder and press the superposed layers .of saidcy-linder tori. gether, means for reciprocating said mandril longitudinally back .and forth after the formation of said cylinder thereon, stationary means ladiacent said mandril for stripping said cylinder .from said mandril during said recipro-cation of said mandril, and means formoving said `bending rolls and pressure shoe out of engagement with said. mandril during/said reciprocating movementY and into engagement with said mandril following said reciprocating movement. .l

3. Apparatus' for forming multiple-layer cyl# inders from thin sheet material lwhich.comprises a base, a pair of cooperating feed rolls Isupported on said base and ,adapted to impart intermittent advance^-'movement` to' thin sheet material therebetween, a reciprocating knife supported by saidV base and adapted to -sever the forward section. ofV said sheet material during a pause'in the adfvance movement of said sheet material, a second' pair of cooperating feed rollssupported by said base on opposite sides of said severed sections' of sheet material and adapted to move said severed'sections forward in spaced succession, a rotatingl adhesive supply roll and a cooperatingl rotating pressure rollVposi-tioned in advance of said second pair of feed rollsV on jopposite sides of said sectionl respectively, said cooperating supply and pressure rollsb'eing normallyv out -oi contact withv said sheet material, means for mov-v ing said pressure roll yto .bring predetermined' portion ofthe surfaceofleach of saidl severed sections into pressureengagermznt withsaid suppl-y roll during said forward movement of said sec tions, a mandril mounted for rotationand longitudinalreciprocation .on said-base and `being located in advance vof `said adhesive supply roll, means for rotatingfsaidmandri-Lfa plurality of rc tating bendingrolls -anda pressure shoe cooperative relation ivith said mandril a-t Aprogressive points about the circumference of said man--4 dril and adaptedto Wind saidlsheetzsection about said mandril into the form of a multiplelayer cylinder andpress the superposed. layers of said cylinder together, Vmeans for reciprocating said mandril longitudinally 'back vand forth after the formation of said cylinder thereon, stationary means adjacent said mandril for stripping said cylinder'from said mandril duringisaid reciprocation of said mandril.

4. Apparatus for forming'multiple-layer cylinders from thin sheet material which comprises abase, means supported by said base for imparting'intermittent advance movement to said sheet material, means forsevering the forward section of said sheet material during apause in the advance movement thereof, means for advancing said severed sectionsof sheet material at spaced intervals, `a cylindrical mandril supported for rotation on'said vbase and rbeingrlocated contiguous to the upath of advance of said sheet sections, means for rotating said mandril, means for winding said sheet material about said mandril into a multiple-layer cylinder and pressing the superposed layers of saidcylinder together comprising: at least one rotating yroll and a pressure shoe in cooperative relation with said mandril at progressive points about the circumference of said mandril, means for rotating said roll, means for pressing said roll and pressure shoe against said mandril with yielding'pressure, and at least one guide member having a surface conforming to the'contour of the surface of said mandril for bending said advancing sheet material about said mandril and between said mandril and said roll and pressure shoe, said pressure shoe having a recess therein accommodating a portion of said guide member to permit overlapping of said guide member and said pressure shoe.

5. Apparatus for forming multiple-layer cylinders kfrom thin sheet material which comprises a base, means supported by said base for imparting intermittent advance movement to said sheet material, means for severing the forward section of said s-heet material during a pause in the advance movement thereof, means for advancing said severed sections of sheet material at spaced intervals, a mandril mounted for rotation and longitudinal reciprocation on said base and being located vcontiguous to the path of advance of said sheet sections, means for rotating said mandril, a plurality of bending rolls in cooperative relation with said mandril at progressive points about the circumference of said mandril and adapted to Wind said sheet materialabout said mandril into the form of a multiple-layer cylinder and press the superposed layers of said cylinder together, means for reciprocating said mandril axially back and forth after the formationof said cylinder thereon, and While undergoing rotation, said` means comprising spaced apart teeth extendingl circumferentially of said mandril at a portion removed from the tube-forming portion thereof, an oscillating toothed gear in cooperative relation with the toothed portion of said mandril, and means for imparting oscillating movement to said gear.

6. Apparatus for forming multiple-layer cylinders from thin sheet material, which comprises means for advancing an elongatedstrip lof sheet material, means for severing sections from said strip, meansfor advancing said severed sections' finished cylinder, a mandril supported on a base n and adapted, for simultaneous .rotation andfaxialireciprocation, said mandril having a cylinderforming section and a second section having a plurality of spaced-apart teeth extending circumferentially of said second section and having zero pitch, a toothed gear in engaged relation to said toothed section of said mandril and adapted to oscillate axially of said mandril, means for rotating said mandril, means for coiling each of said advancing sections of sheet material about said material, means for severing sections? from said strip, means for advancing said severed sections in spaced succession, means for applying adhesive to a predetermined portion of the surface of each said section, said predetermined portion forming at least a part of the inter-layer surface in the finished cylinder, a mandril supported on a base and-adapted for simultaneous rotation and axial reciprocation, means for rotating said inandril, means for coiling each of said advancing sections of sheet material about said mandril and pressn ing the superposed layers together to form a firm adhesive joint, means for reciprocating said man dril axially during rotation thereof, and means for stripping the formed cylinders from said man dril during said reciprocation or^ said mandril.

ALLISON M. MACFARLAND. 

